POLICE were forced to shut down Jouvert celebrations in Tunapuna yesterday morning after patrons began to throw missiles and displayed unruly behaviour.

According to police reports 19 people were brought before a Tunapuna magistrate after the "misbehaviour of a few revellers".

Police said around 9 a.m. as the morning's festivities were scheduled to come to an end police officers, under the instructions of ACP Wayne Dick closed the roads and stopped bands. This came after reports of people throwing bottles into the crowd, as well as a few reports of pick pocketing.

Apart from those incidents police said the Jouvert celebrations in that area came off smoothly.

Prior to that the celebrations were enjoyable. The Tunapuna Main Road was turned into a sea of people wearing mostly what seemed like home made costumes.

Keeping a close eye on things were officers of the Tunapuna Police Station, the Northern Division Task Force and the Air Guard who while enjoying the mas still managed to keep everything under control.

Monica Richardson of the Tunapuna Carnival Committee lamented that they got just a few sponsors this year.